Quake hits Taiwan, no casualties

Four earthquakes, including one that measured 5.9 on the Richter scale, struck southeastern Taiwan Wednesday, but no casualties or damage were immediately reported, according to the Taipei-based Central News Agency. The four tremors shook Taiwan's southeastern coast near the city of Taitung between 9:08 a.m. (0108 GMT) and 10:24 a.m. (0224), Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau's Seismology Center said. The magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit first, with its epicenter located at sea some 49.9 kilometers southeast of Taitung at a depth of 16.6 km, the center said. It was followed by a magnitude 4.7 tremor and two magnitude 4.8 aftershocks, the report said. The magnitude 5.9 quake was felt throughout Taiwan. The Seismology Center said the four tremors struck in the area where the Philippine Sea Plate borders the Eurasian Plate. Earthquakes are frequent in Taiwan and the most destructive was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999, killing more than 2, 400 people.